Fergie's Greatest Achievement Has Been Managing Himself

November 6, 2011

A lot has and will be said about Fergie’s winning mentality this week. It’s at milestones such as these (and let’s face it, SAF’s had a few) that well worn phrases are paraded about like leathery skinned ex-pros at identikit stadia they never graced. “Never knows he’s beaten”, “obsession with winning” and “addicted to success” are all old favourites. They portray the auld knight as some trembling victory bus junkie, desperately licking at the foil of chocolate coins and manically tapping as his forearm, belt in teeth, preparing for his next three point fix.

There’s obvious truth in parts of that (probably not the bit about chocolate coins… or the belt) but I honestly think it does him a disservice. It kind of aligns itself to the hairdryer narrative of the ferocious competitor dragging his charges mercilessly to victory. The script was the same when Wenger and Fergie were locking horns in the nineties. The former was portrayed as cultured and debonair; the latter as an old school disciplinarian. In reality SAF is the far more rounded of the two with plenty of interests outside of the sport. Arsene was very much the football geek.

If it was all about being ‘driven’ and ‘gay’ for success (I paraphrase) why has Roy Keane’s management career proved such a disappointment? Here was a player very much in his manager’s image, who had plenty time to learn from the best. He is just as uncompromising and committed, and just as scornful of decent efforts and plucky runners up. But Keano’s überferg approach to management didn’t work. Being a toxic leader to those poor souls genuinely unable to achieve in a way he found so routine destroyed rather than made stronger.

But that’s the thing about perfectionism – it’s not always a positive thing. It can be a disease. Having an unquenchable desire to succeed upon success is born from dissatisfaction. A win is a win but when it’s done it’s gone – and it’s never enough. Worse for a pathological perfectionist is if victory never comes. Or stops coming. It can not only ruin a team and harm a club, but also crush the man. If you measure your worth in silver, how do you cope with a bare cabinet?

For me Sir Alex’s greatest managerial achievement has been managing himself. Anger and siege mentality are hardly conducive to longevity. Over his 25 glorious years at United not all have been glorious. He must have experienced desperate lows and private self-doubt in his first few years at the helm. And even once the honours starting to gush forth and multiply, there were significant troughs to punctuate the many peaks. He has never crumbled under the immense weight of his own expectations or succumbed to narcissistic rage or injury. Nor has he simply thrown money at every problem or succumbed to the vanity of playing pretty potless football like some of his contemporaries.

Contrary to the catatonic caricature, Fergie has remained temperate throughout. He has treated success and relative failure with a reserve that would make Kipling proud. Whatever keeps him restful and energetic away from football – be it holidaying in France, the wine, horse-breeding, the wine, learning to play the piano, or indeed the wine – it seems to be working.

Over the last quarter of a century, he’s been extremely patient and shrewd, and always incredibly pragmatic (some would say too pragmatic in recent years, but hey – that’s for any day!). Even his famous outbursts and tirades seem increasingly tactical and calculated, often used to make a point or distract attention away from another story. It’s all about control – of the media, the players and the story. And always himself.

Love him or loathe him, he is an incredible man. Not for his fire or his fury, but for his wit and intelligence. Above all else, he is a very canny Scot. It helps make him the best manager in the history of the game. Sir Matt Busby created the Manchester United we now take for granted – the style, the ethos, the glamour – no one can compete with that. But Fergie has provided all the success and glory Busby must have dreamed of. For that, we and generations to follow must be eternally grateful.

26 Comments

Greatest Manager ever. Lucky enough to be sitting in the North Stand when the announcement was made, the roar was brilliant and only fitting for the man who saved United from twenty six years of hurt and the man who was put United where is belongs i.e. Top of the Perch.

Morning all
Well well well…. All that time I was sat in The Sir Alex Ferguson stand and didn’t even know it!! Fantastic tribute to the great man. Noise levels were good but still moments of lull, I’ll put that down to the nerves. What did we say Cedars, another nail bighter! But the fergie songs were load and passionate, even got a song from the East stand!
Ok, not s great game but the 2nd half saw an improvement. Fletcher performed better, Carrick showed his eye for a pass that Anderson does not and Vidic and Jones were emense! Hopefully we can keep this back 4 injury free and start to rebuild. If this back 4 had been playing regularly we all know City would not of beaten us! Look at City last night. Kompany misses one game and their defence was shocking. QPR could easily have scored 4!! How would they have coped with our problems?!! They’ve had ZERO injuries this season, that won’t last and if we’re there to pounce believe me, we will!!

Morning my friend... I am sure it was equally as emotional for you as it was for the rest of us.... I did write about it on the picture thread. Glad you enjoyed your day and hope you have a sore throat this morning as promised! Is it ever not nail biting with United? When the day comes and I lose my life it will be through a heart attack and it will be because of United, that is how much I love them!

Cedars
Morning pal. Yep, sang myself horse! I was a little upset to see so many empty seats around me, but those that were occupied were in full voice today! Long wait now til our next game but hope the break helps us.

Cedars
Yes pal, top day, average performance but great tribute. We all recieved a SAF 25 tribute programme. Only a small 26 page thing but some nice pics and tributes. I picked sn extra one up from an empty seat. If you send me your postal address, via email if you don't want to publicise it, I'll gladly send it to you. To an ex regular as a get well soon pressie.

Felt the love @ Old Trafford so much yesterday. Was good to see a competitive match for the 1st time in 8 years!!! way too long since id been.
Was a fairly dull match Sunderland parked the bus... Made it very hard for us to break them down but our defence was solid didnt really give them anything.
We just need something extra in the middle of the park...
Not sure Rooney should be that spark (yet...)
but all in all fantastic day and a decent 3 points...
Bring on Benfica...

Heh, I liked the little jab in the end. Very good read. And I fully agree about the Wenger and Ferguson comparison. I remember 10-15 years ago people banging on about Wenger's culture and how sophisticated he was. Football geek sums him up very well. :lol:

Like I said before, I miss the atmosphere we generated back then.... Just about half the size but triple the noise. I am sure you remember that Barca game (You were there) loudest football stadium of all time I am sure...

Like I said if you do not get an email let me know...

Whether or not we met we will never know, even if we shared pictures now, how on earth are we going to remember! hahaha

I never understood the hatred for Phelan, what has he done to be "fucked off"? we fans don't about the inner workings of Man Utd, but the great man does and if he thinks Phelan is a capable no.2 and the players do seem to respond to it why shouldn't he keep the job he's worked so hard to earn?.

@Bearded, thanks. Great read and spot on with,
But that’s the thing about perfectionism – it’s not always a positive thing. It can be a disease. Having an unquenchable desire to succeed upon success is born from dissatisfaction.

"Dissatisfaction." is a wild thing. In life I learn different then most. I was so competitive growing up. And when the red mist descends one can not think straight. The brain chemistry changes into fight and flight. In this druged induced state we can only react and not think. Thus when I noticed the precursors of the Red Mist approach, I consciously redirected the flow of wild energy with mine, let it circulate and redirect in a positive direction to use in my favor. I call it "Inspirational Dissatisfaction."